Public Statements

Lummis: Put Coal Ash Regulation in the Hands of the States' Capable Experts

Statement

Today, U.S. Representative Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) praised bipartisan House passage of H.R. 2273, the Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act. H.R. 2273 returns inspection and monitoring of coal ash to the states and establishes a new regulatory framework protecting public health and jobs. Lummis released the following statement:

"In its effort to eradicate the future of coal as an energy source, the Obama Administration's EPA has been intent on labeling coal ash as a hazardous material despite two EPA studies under the Clinton administration which found that coal ash was non-hazardous. A disregard for sound science is not the only problem with the EPA's federal regulation on coal ash; findings show that the EPA's proposal would have devastating repercussions for jobs, the economy, and even the recycling industry, which makes use of coal ash for everything from wallboard to bowling balls. Job-killing, agenda-based federal regulation lacking in sound science has no place in American government.

"The Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act is responsible legislation that puts Wyoming's coal ash regulation in the hands of our states' capable experts. This bipartisan legislation blocks the EPA's agenda-based proposal, preserves rules that protect public health, and saves American jobs by allowing coal ash to be used in environmentally-friendly ways."